Comparing Properties of Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Alkane Alkene
Physical properties Physical properties
1. Physical state at room conditions 1. Physical state at room conditions
CH4 C2H4
gas gas

C4H10 C4H8
C5H12 C5H10
liquid liquid

C17H36 C17H34
C18H38 solid C18H36 solid

2. Density 2. Density
 CH4 , C2H6 , C3H8… →  C2H4 , C3H6 , C4H8… →
- number of carbon atom per molecule increases - number of carbon atom per molecule increases
- relative molecular mass of molecule increases - relative molecular mass of molecule increases
- molecules packed closer due to the increase in - molecules packed closer due to the increase in
intermolecular forces between molecules intermolecular forces between molecules
- density increases - density increases
3. Melting and boiling point 3. Melting and boiling point
 CH4 , C2H6 , C3H8… →  C2H4 , C3H6 , C4H8… →
- number of carbon atom per molecule increases - number of carbon atom per molecule increases
- molecular size increases - molecular size increases
- forces of attraction between molecules is stronger - forces of attraction between molecules is stronger
- more heat energy is needed to overcome these - more heat energy is needed to overcome these
intermolecular forces intermolecular forces
- melting and boiling point increases - melting and boiling point increases
Generally, the melting and boiling point for alkanes and alkenes are very low. This is because the molecules are
attracted by weak intermolecular forces, which is van der Waals forces.
4. Solubility in water 4. Solubility in water
- insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents - insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents
such as ether because alkane is a covalent compound. such as ether because alkene is a covalent compound.
5. Electrical conductivity 5. Electrical conductivity
- do not conduct electricity - do not conduct electricity

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CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. Combustion 1. Combustion
(a) Complete combustion (a) Complete combustion
Alkane + sufficient oxygen → CO2 + H2O Alkene + sufficient oxygen → CO2 + H2O
Example: Example:
CH 4  2O2  CO2  2 H 2 O C 2 H 4  3O2  2CO2  2 H 2 O
7 9
C2 H 6  O2  2CO2  3H 2 O C3 H 6  O2  3CO2  3H 2 O
2 2

 CH4 , C2H6 , C3H8… →  C2H4 , C3H6 , C4H8… →

- getting more difficult to burn - getting more difficult to burn
- producing yellow sooty flame - producing yellow and more sooty flame
- number of carbon atom per molecule increases - number of carbon atom per molecule increases
- percentage of carbon by mass increases - percentage of carbon by mass increases
For the alkane and alkene that have the same number of carbon atoms but the combustion of alkene produces
more sootiness compared to alkane. This is because alkene contains higher percentage by mass of carbon than
alkane.
Examples:
(a) Ethane (C2H6) and Ethene (C2H4) (b) Pentane (C5H12) and Pentene (C5H10)
Relative molecular mass for C2H6 = 30 Relative molecular mass for C5H12 = 72

Relative molecular mass for C2H4 = 28 Relative molecular mass for C5H10 = 70

Percentage of carbon by mass for C2H6 = 100 Percentage of carbon by mass for C5H12 = 100

Percentage of carbon by mass for C2H4 = 100 Percentage of carbon by mass for C5H10 = 100

(b) Incomplete combustion (b) Incomplete combustion

Alkane + insufficient oxygen → C + H2O Alkene + insufficient oxygen → C + H2O
Example: Example:
C3 H 8  2O2  3C  4 H 2 O C 4 H 8  2O2  4C  4 H 2 O

5 5
C 4 H 10  O2  4C  5H 2 O C 5 H 10  O2  5C  5H 2 O
2 2

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2. Substitution reaction (Halogenation) 2. Addition reaction
alkane  ha log en UV
light

 haloalkane  acid
Example:
(a) (a) Halogens (Bromine solution in tetrachloromethane/
Aqueous solution of bromine)
Alkene + bromine solution
↓

CH 4  Cl 2  CH 3Cl  HCl shake

↓
brown bromine decolourised
C n H 2 n  Br2  C n H 2 n Br2

Example:
CH 3 Cl  Cl 2  CH 2 Cl 2  HCl
(i)

CH 2 Cl 2  Cl 2  CHCl 3  HCl

C 2 H 4  Br2  C 2 H 4 Br2
(ii)
CHCl 3  Cl 2  CCl 2  HCl

(b) CH 4  Br2  CH 3 Br  HBr

CH 3 Br  Br2  CH 2 Br2  HBr

CH 2 Br2  Br2  CHBr3  HBr

CHBr3  Br2  CBr4  HBr

C 4 H 8  Br2  C 4 H 8 Br2

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Alkane cannot carry out addition reaction. Therefore, (b) Acidified potassium manganate (VII) solution
alkane can be differentiate from alkene by using the (addition of hydroxyl group, -OH)
following solution: Alkene + acidified KMnO4 solution
1. bromine solution in tetrachloromethane ↓
Alkane will not decolourise brown bromine solution. shake
2. acidified potassium manganate (VII) solution ↓
Alkane will not decolourise purple acidified potassium purple acidified KMnO4 solution decolourised
manganate (VII) solution. Example:
(i)

(ii)

(c) Hydrogen
alkene  H 2 Ni
/Pt
 alkane
Catalyst: nickel or platinum
Temperature: 180 °C
Example:
(i)

(ii)

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(d) Water (steam)
alkene  H 2 O H  alcohol
3 PO4

Catalyst: phosphoric acid

Temperature: 300 °C
Pressure: 60 atm
Example:
(i)

(ii)

(e) Hydrogen halides (HCl, HBr, HI)

Alkene + hydrogen halide → haloalkane
Example:
(i)

(ii)

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3. Addition Polymerisation
The smaller alkene molecules which are the basic units
called monomers link together to form a long chain of
molecules called polymer.
Polymerisation of ethene:
Temperature: 200 °C
Pressure: 1200 atm

ethene polyethene

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